USAToday Book Review:Excerpt from 'Lies' By Al Franken

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/excerpts/2003-08-21-lies_x.htm

Excerpt from 'Lies' By Al Franken

Introduction God chose me to write this book.

Just the fact that you are reading this is proof not just of God's existence, but also of His/Her/Its beneficence. That's right. I am not certain of God's precise gender. But I am certain that He/She/It chose me to write this book. This isn't hubris. I'm not saying this in an egotistical way. God didn't choose me because I'm the greatest writer who ever lived. That was William Shakespeare, whose work I have a passing familiarity with. No. I just happened to be the right vessel at the right time. If something in this book makes you laugh, it was God's joke. If something makes you think, it's because God had a good point to make.

The reason I know God chose me is because God spoke to me personally.
God began our conversation by clearing something up. Some of George W. Bush's friends say that Bush believes God called him to be president during these times of trial. But God told me that He/She/It had actually chosen Al Gore by making sure that Gore won the popular vote and, God thought, the electoral college. "THAT WORKED FOR EVERYONE ELSE," God said. "What about Tilden?" I asked, referring to the 1876 debacle. "QUIET!" God snapped. God was angry.

God said that after 9/11, George W. Bush squandered a unique moment of national unity. That instead of rallying the country around a program of mutual purpose and sacrifice, Bush cynically used the tragedy to solidify his political power and pursue an agenda that panders to his base and serves the interests of his corporate backers. God told me that Bush squandered a $4.6 trillion surplus and is plunging us into deficits as far as God can see. And that Bush squandered another surplus. The surplus of goodwill from the rest of the world that he had inherited from Bill Clinton.
And this was pissing God off. <snip>

I've ordered a copy of the book.

It's a tango dance between information and humor. He nails people in the book big time. I won't spoiler anything.

I'm more apt to believe that conversation between Al Franken and God than God being on bu$h' side on anything. God hates the right wing media - got that Faux news, so don't try anymore frivolous lawsuits.

Sonia

I'll buy it. But stop with the jokes already. How the hell can I get to Amazon.com if you're gonna keep up the side splitting?

(This is Great!)
:-)

this thread has been up for a few days and none of the usual moronic naysayers that usually pop in to trash true liberals like moore, chomsky, palast, and even hightower have shown up to spew some of thier usual BS.

I want to discuss this book with fellow DUers, but I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't read it yet. If you are reading this and you have the slightest bit of interest in what Al Franken has to say, then get in your car and drive to borders and buy this book and read it now.

Basically, all of the research that I have done, along with all of the DUers, every day, all of the debating, the reading, the surfing, all of it, is neatly compiled into this 354 page text, and it is hilarious too. (except the chapter on Paul Wellstone.. whom Al Franken was friends with)

If Michael Moore's book did as well as it did, then I can't imagine this one not doing even better. Moore's books belong in the "junior's" section in the library compared to Franken's, and I really like moore's books. I don't want to compare them. It's just that this book is so good that Franken jumped to the top of my list of favorites. This is going to be an amazing election year!!!!